Russia disappointed, ‘We never supported Assad’s regime’

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)
بشار الأسد

For some time, I have warned that Russia may turn against Syria’s Assad. Notice what is now being reported:

Russia appears to be running out of patience with Assad’s heavy hand, and is preparing to push the Syrian leader for political and humanitarian concessions.

By Fred Weir, Correspondent / April 10, 2012…

“We never supported Assad’s regime,” says Andrei Klimov, deputy chair of the State Duma’s international affairs committee. “Our point was always that both sides have to share in the responsibility. There has to be ceasefire, and they both have to stop shooting. Assad promised everybody, including Russia, that he will end this outrage. Let us see whether he is able to keep this pledge. If he doesn’t, then Russia may change its attitude towards him, because it will mean that he has fallen out with us as well. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2012/0410/Russian-comments-on-Syria-hint-at-mounting-disapproval-of-Assad

Russia had been one of the strongest supporters of Syria’s President, and now they are distancing themselves from him, as well as specifically from his regime.

This is something I have indicated at this news page that could happen. Russia would prefer to assist and trade with Syria, but when it comes down to it, other international issue (and markets) are more important to them.

Quelling dissent has not yet worked completely for President Assad. Many are angry with him for not complying with a cease-fire he said he would support:

Syria defies cease-fire plan as peace hopes fade

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Newsday – Originally published: April 10, 2012

BEIRUT – (AP) — Syrian troops defied a U.N.-brokered cease-fire plan Tuesday, launching fresh attacks on rebellious areas, but special envoy Kofi Annan said there was still time to salvage a truce that he described as the only chance for peace.

More than a year into the Syrian uprising, the international community has nearly run out of options for halting the slide toward civil war…Facing a Tuesday deadline to pull back its tanks and troops, the Syrian government had said it was withdrawing from certain areas, including the rebellious central province of Homs. But France called the claims a “flagrant and unacceptable lie,” and activists said there was no sign of a withdrawal.

Syria does not have many international friends left–its closest ally is Iran, and Iran has its own major issues–though the two nations could end up supporting each other against a common enemy to them, like Israel. And apparently Russia expects a regional war involving Iran and Israel by the summer (which I suspect, if it occurs, might well also involve Syria):

Russia Is Massing Troops On Iran’s Northern Border And Waiting For A Western Attack

April 9, 2012

WASHINGTON – The Russian military anticipates that an attack will occur on Iran by the summer and has developed an action plan to move Russian troops through neighboring Georgia to stage in Armenia, which borders on the Islamic republic, according to informed Russian sources…Russian Defense Ministry sources say that the Russian military doesn’t believe that Israel has sufficient military assets to defeat Iranian defenses and further believes that U.S. military action will be necessary. http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-thinks-an-israeli-attack-on-iran-by-the-summer-is-almost-certain-2012-4

While Russia, along with China, want to keep supporting Syria (and Iran), neither are so committed to Syria that they will not change their positions (how far Russia would really go in assisting Iran is also likely limited).

And Russia is now publicly stating something about Syria that last year would have been considered nearly impossible to publicly state. The “We never supported Assad’s regime” statement is not how various others have previously viewed Russia’s actions. This is clearly a public change towards Damascus.

The Bible shows that Syria’s capital city Damascus (Isaiah 7:8) will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). Whether this will happen because of internal civil war or an attack involving Israel remains to be seen. But eventually, Damascus has to be destroyed, and probably relatively soon.

Russia (along with China) will try to do what is in its best interest. Syria is simply not important enough for Russia to back Assad under all scenarios. Russia may have supported earlier international statements against Syria if it had not felt so betrayed by what it thought it backed related to Libya last year and what the West ended up doing there. But just because Russia is not encouraging the West to overthrow Syria militarily does not mean it simply will not support Syria against all odds. What was reported today clearly confirms that.

Much is going on in the Middle East. The King of the South will rise up (Daniel 11:40) and Syria (directly or indirectly) is likely to play a role in that occurrence. As well as end up being a supporter of that king–thus the situation in Syria must change.

As Jesus said in Mark 13:37, we all should watch.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?